This webpage
follows up the "re-commissioning" history and planned sale of a 1980 Maserati Quattroporte III,
initiated by owner Larry
Thompson over a 20-month period in his Honolulu shop.

Here's
an update of the work originally done in Honolulu and new Burbank tasks taken on by
new owner Bob Schmitt:

Pending Tasks

1. Paint
and patches - The paint on all horizontal surfaces was severely
weathered and sun burned. These surfaces were sanded, smoothed with rubbing
compound, polished and waxed. This
video hows the partly polished roof.
Polishing and waxing continues! Small rust areas of the lower doors and
front fenders will eventually be cut out and patched with sheet metal. Re-painting will
also be considered in
2019.

2.
Interior -
Leatherique Rejuvenator Oil was applied to the rear seats on August 8; Prestine
Clean then removed the excess oil and grime after a day in the sun. Grey
sheepskin covers were taken off the front seats. These seats were dirtier than the rear seats and were similarly treated
with the Leatherique process on August 9. Results are very good!
Other leather surfaces will be cleaned soon.

Completed

1. Air
conditioning - Larry disconnected the compressor clutch prior to
shipping. When the circuit was connected according to his
directions, the A/C worked well.

2. Gas
support struts for hood and trunk - none of the four struts held up the
hood or trunk. One of each was removed and part numbers
for both confirmed - Sachs SG270001 for the hood and Sachs SG270002 for
the trunk. Master Auto Parts (Sun
Valley) matched the hood supports to a StrongArm part (at a good price!)
and they were
installed. The trunk struts were obtained from
MaseratiNet (MIE Corporation) and installed. The trunk now
responds to the
console button, as designed.

3. Rear
door, passenger side - when picked up in Buena Park, this locking button could not be depressed to lock this
door nor could the car be fully locked with the central locking
system. The door panel was removed to identify the
cause - seemed to be a lack of lubrication on the multi-part linkage. All
linkage parts were sprayed with Kroil and the door lock operated as
designed. The door panel was left off for a few days to confirm
the locking mechanism was fixed. Update later - all locks work
well and the
panel was re-installed.

4. Window
tint film - the old, wrinkled film was removed with an inexpensive
travel steamer. Ammonia cleaned up the residual glue.

5. Leather
- Larry bought a "half hide" long ago to recover the
dash. He sent the remaining leather, rolled in a tube to Burbank
by UPS. A useful spare!

6. The
plain license plate frame was replaced with a University of Hawaii frame
- see third photo from top, above.

7. A used
but "as-new"
console cover bought from eBay replaced the worn/torn original.

8. A
window switch was bought from eBay as a spare.

9. Chrome
and other "bright work" polished.

10. Gas
gauge - Larry created an electrical bypass to show enough fuel to meet
shipping requirements, as noted in his reports, the gauge was not operating. Alfa
Italia replaced the fuel sensor float, the gauge circuit was
re-connected and indicated about 1/4 tank. Alfa Italia also added gas; we added
more. There were probably about 11 gallons in the tank at that time.
The tank was filled and gauge was active briefly, then died!
The tank was filled again on August 11. The gauge showed a fill
level and settled down "near full" at idle but fell to zero
when underway. The gauge showed a fluctuating but mostly correct
level on August 22, then went to zero on August 27 and remained
inoperative. It continued to show zero fuel until November 1; it
then indicated about 1/3 full. The tank was filled on November 3
and the gauge showed a fluctuating but mostly correct
level

11. Smog
certificate - Alfa Italia checked the timing and the carbs before a
smog test at the In and Out test center. The Maserati passed on
August 22.

12.
California registration - completed at AAA on August 23.

13. Tires
& wheels - Larry
replaced the two front (old) Pirelli tires with Kumho Solus tires in Honolulu.
I was advised to replace the two Pirelli tires on the rear wheels.
Matching Kumho Solus tires were installed on October 12; the wheels were cleaned.

14. The
sheepskin covers that had been removed from front seats were replaced
with "Kool Kooshion Faux Leather Full Seat Cushions".
These were selected because they are easily removed for car shows or leather maintenance.

15. Master Auto Parts
(Sun Valley) matched and provided a pint of "Brown
Metallizzato" paint (see
a photo of a Quattroporte in this color). with reducer and hardener, for touch-ups
on October 11. The light brown paint on the driver's side rear
quarter panel and one very small area on the rear door were sprayed, sanded and rubbed smooth on October 22.

16. Carpets - the original
insulation was hard, brittle and
flaking off. On October 24, Ensolite foam (1/8") was purchased from the Foam
Mart, Burbank. The Ensolite was glued to the four carpet sections
which were reinstalled on October 28.

17. The
missing passenger-side door protection molding was replaced on November
1.

18. A
broken clip on the passenger sun visor was repaired on November 6.

Alfa Italia, a
great Alfa Romeo specialist in Burbank, diagnosed the "no start"
problem as dirt or varnish in the fuel tank. The tank was removed,
sent for cleaning and re-installed. I brought the car home this day -
my first ever drive!

The long Honolulu project
and journey was nearly complete as the Maserati arrived in Burbank!
But not "at home"; the photo below is at Alfa Italia in Burbank to cure a
fuel-blockage problem, possibly caused by shipping.

Shipping from
Honolulu to California was arranged through Pasha Hawaii. Pasha called on
May 25 to report the Maserati was available for pickup in Buena Park, but
it was too late in the day for an immediate pickup. We made an appointment
to pickup the Maserati at
9:30 am, May 30. We traveled from Burbank to Buena Park by Metrolink and
OCTA bus, expecting to drive home in the Quattroporte. After much
wandering in the Buena Park industrial area, we eventually found the Pasha lot.
The Maserati
would not start! AAA was called and a flatbed brought us and the car
to Alfa Italia in Burbank - see photos immediately above. Two boxes
and a large tube later arrived from Larry with the owner's manual, new
leather, the old fuel pumps and other non-critical parts that can be renewed.

Maserati revived the
Quattroporte name at the 1977 Turin auto show with a radically new
Quattroporte III. Unlike the Citroen-based Quattroporte II of the
mid-1970s, the stately Quattroporte III sedan carried attractive bodywork
by Giugiaro and Italdesign, had an absolutely opulent interior that
featured loosely tucked leather throughout, and used a powerful motor to
drive the car's rear wheels.

Production of the Quattroporte
III began in 1979 with a 255-hp, four-cam, 4.2-liter V-8, with a 280-hp
4.9-liter version of this motor being available shortly thereafter. These
engines sent their power to the rear wheels through either a ZF five-speed
transmission, or a Borg Warner automatic that quickly gave way to a
Chrysler Torqueflite box early in production. Otherwise, the Quattroporte
III saw minimal changes throughout its 11-year production run, and by 1990
just over 2,100 examples of this imposing, 140-mph executive express were
produced. Most of the models had been made by 1987, with approximately 55
revised "Royale" versions completed thereafter. A few examples
of a stretched limousine version were built as well.

When searching for a Maserati
Quattroporte III today, buyers should remember that the models are complex
cars that sell at a relatively low price, with rust and electrical
gremlins being the two areas that can swallow up cash very quickly. If a
QPorte is needy in these two areas, an owner can easily surpass the value
of the car in repair and restoration bills--examples such as this are
better off as parts cars. The suspension can wear quickly as well, however
replacement pieces are readily available with Pantera front suspension
parts being an exact match for most of the front suspension. With this in
mind, healthy Maserati Quattroporte IIIs are powerful, imposing, and
comfortable four-door touring cars. The model also enjoys a vibrant online
support network that is rabidly enthusiastic about this Italian exotic
that exists in a class of one.